Latest KFF Health News Stories
Over 80 Countries Mark World Handwashing Day
VOA News reports that more than 80 countries marked Global Handwashing Day Thursday. The news service writes that “[d]iarrhea is the third cause of death in West and Central Africa, which is responsible for 30 percent of the world’s deaths of children under the age of five.”
GOP Leaders Keep Up The Criticism About Democratic-Backed Health Overhaul Plans
The GOP appears to be sticking together as leaders try to make the case that reforms currently being considered are the wrong way to go.
Pelosi Has Tough Words For Insurers As She Pushes Public Option
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is preparing a caucus count on lawmakers’ support for the public option and is joining liberal Democrats in the House on warning insurers.
Senate Democratic Leaders Say Party Will Unite On Health Reform Vote
Senate Democratic leaders are predicting they will have all Democratic votes in the Senate on a health care reform bill.
Legislation Only Modestly Addresses Medical Errors
Health care overhaul legislation largely fails to address the issue of medical errors that were detailed in a 10-year old landmark federal study.
Gloomy Health Care Statistics In Texas Top State News
New outlets report on a variety of health issues at the state level including gloomy health statistics and the rising cost of premiums for sick workers in Texas, a Medicaid program that could provide a model for national health care reform in North Carolina and Medicaid cuts in Michigan.
CBO Estimate: House Bill Closing In On Obama’s $900 Billion Limit
An initial Congressional Budget Office estimate of a version of health reform legislation favored by House liberals puts the price-tag within reach of President Obama’s stated $900 billion limit for the overhaul.
Poll Questions Draw Varying Health Reform Conclusions
Polls can give misleading information about where Americans stand on health reform.
Obama Administration Appears Open To Public Plan ‘Trigger’
President Obama appears open to Sen. Olympia Snowe’s idea of a trigger for the public option and criticized the insurance industry during a visit to New Orleans Thursday.
Hearings Focus On Health Insurance Gender Discrimination, The Underinsured
During a hearing before a subcommittee of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, several women shared stories of gender discrimination in health care coverage.
Today’s Selection Of Opinions And Editorials
Opinions and editorials from around the country.
Insurers Vs. Dems: Battle Over AHIP Report Leads To ‘Grudge Match’
An industry-sponsored report forecasting soaring health insurance prices as a result of reform plans ignited a fight between insurers and Democrats, and doused a fragile truce between top insurance lobbyist Karen Ignagni and White House health adviser Nancy-Ann DeParle.
AHIP And AMA Launch Health Care TV Ads
America’s Health Insurance Plans and the American Medical Association launch new television ads on health care.
GOP, Some Dems Object To Plan For Adjusting Physicians’ Medicare Pay
Senate Democrats will take up a $240 billion, stand-alone bill that blocks planned Medicare cuts to physician spending next week. But, it’s unpaid for and could lead to a revolt among budget hawks.
Leading Blue Dog Suggests Extending Medicare To Uninsured
Leading Blue Dogs wrestle over options to increase coverage for the uninsured and extend Medicare.
Wellness Provisions Advance In Reform Legislation
Employers could incentivize wellness if provisions passed by the Senate finance and health committees become law.
Lobbying Efforts Heat Up On Health Care
Special interest groups of many stripes are stepping up lobbying efforts and spending millions to shape health legislation.
First Edition: October 16, 2009
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including the latest political and policy developments surrounding health overhaul legislation.
House Panel Sets Stage For Reconciliation Maneuver
A key House panel approved a measure Thursday setting the stage for Senate Democrats to bypass likely Republican attempts to block health reform legislation.
